Water Gardening News

Welcome to Water Gardening News. This blog replaces the original PondMessenger blog. It is devoted to bringing the latest news and information about aquatic plants, ornamental fish and pond products from around the world to hobbyist water gardeners and those who are involved in the pond-keeping business. PondMessenger is now creating a new home within the developing regional web-sites of International Horticultural Communications Pty Ltd. In addition monthly regional PondMessenger and PondTrader eNewsletters are being published in collaboration with the Water Gardener web-sites. The PondMessenger community of water gardeners is still as lively and vibrant as ever, and details of how to join are posted at the end of this blog. A link to International Water Gardener and its associated regional web-sites will also be found there. I hope that you enjoy this new arrangement and become a regular visitor to Water Gardening News.


KHV Outbreak in UK Worsens

KHV is spreading
More than 200 stillwater fisheries in the UK have been stocked by fish suppliers believed to be possible sources of the UK's current Koi Herpes Virus outbreak it is believed. A letter from the Environment Agency received by the Angling Times, states that there have been 12 confirmed cases of KHV in stillwater fisheries in England so far this year: ten of the fisheries have been legally stocked this year with carp from 26 different suppliers, but the remaining two have not been legally stocked this year; suggesting that either KHV was already present in the fish, or that it was introduced on illegally stocked fish. For the original story and background click here.


2006 New Waterlily Competition Results

Nymphaea 'Tan-khwan'
The winners of the 2006 New Waterlily Competition of the International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society have been announced.

Best New Waterlily - ‘Avalanche’ (Craig Presnell - United States)

Best New Tropical Waterlily - ‘Avalanche’ (Craig Presnell - United States)

Runner Up - ‘Pink Flamingo’ - (Craig Presnell - United States)

Best New Hardy Waterlily - 'Tan-khwan' - (Pairat Songpanich - Thailand)

Runner Up - ‘Niki’ - (Andreas Protopapas - Cyprus)

Further details click here.


BioHaven Wild Floating Island


The BioHaven Wild Floating Island is designed to enhance water quality while creating shade and shelter for fish, according to the manufacturer. The island is made from a non-woven matrix that plant roots can grow through. It is currently available in the United States, Canada and Australia. Further details click here.


The Blagdon Minipond Gravity Filter now in Australia


The Blagdon Minipond Gravity Filter creates a clean, clear and healthy environment for fish and requires minimal maintenance. It includes high performance UVC to clear green water algae. Graded foam filter pads remove dirt and waste. Ceramic biological filter media prevent the build up of harmful toxins. A replaceable polymer wool pad removes fine waste particles. A carbon impregnated pad removes chemical pollutants. Further information click here.


UK Algae Treatments Launched in North America


Green Ways of the United Kingdom have introduced Pond Mat, Pond Pads, Pond Snip-Its and Pond Strip barley straw treatments to American water gardeners. All treatments are made from cleaned barley straw stitched between layers of knitted cotton netting. New Lavender Pond Pads feature barley straw and lavender stalks for use in ponds with pumped water circulation. Pond Snip-Its are designed for ponds up to 700 gallons; Pond Pads for ponds up to 2,100 gallons. Pond Strip is an economy roll of barley straw pads and pond mats are designed for lakes and reservoirs. A floater device is also available. Further details click here.


Free Pump Offer for South African Water Gardeners


Focus Features have a special offer of a free pump for anyone purchasing one of their water features. They are lightweight, strong and easy-to-install. Made of fibreglass they are made locally in Pretoria. All their products represent "out of nature" designs and are in rock, slate or log type finishes.
Further information click here.


2006 German Waterlily Introduction

Nymphaea 'Iolanthe'
German aquatic plant specialist, Christian Meyer, of well known waterlily growers Seerosen Farm, has just announced a new hardy waterlily cultivar for 2006. Called ‘Iolanthe’ it is a hybrid between ‘James Brydon’ and ‘Wow’. It is said to be a large growing cultivar with dark green leaves that are reddish-brown when young. The flowers rest on the surface of the water and are a brilliant pink colour. Further details click here


"Nymphaea minuta"

The description of a new species of waterlily from Madagascar, which was recently published in the Water Garden Journal of the International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society Vol.20:No 4, has proved to invalidate the name. Unfortunately the original authors did not include a Latin diagnosis as is required when describing a new species scientifically, and this over-sight was not picked up during editing. So the name N. minuta is invalid. The outcome of scientific deliberation is awaited.

Is the Future for Fancy Goldfish in Jeopardy in the UK?

Uncertain future?
The UK government has confirmed that a study on freak pets, including fancy goldfish and genetically modified fish, will help shape the forthcoming Animal Welfare Bill. The study entitled Breeding and Welfare in Companion Animals has been produced by the Companion Animal Welfare Council (CAWC) and emphasises the many problems that occur in pets through selective breeding. For the original story and background click here.


UK Pond Survey Training Courses - Ponds Conservation

Pond Conservation are running pond survey training courses again this year. The one day courses cover use of national standard methods for surveying ponds for plants and invertebrates. They will be held at Rhydymwyn Valley Nature Reserve, near Mold, north Wales on Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th August, and at Oxford Brookes University in Oxford on Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd August. The course costs £200 for government / statutory bodies and commercial organisations and £50 for charities and volunteers. Further details click here.


Abattoir Waste-water Fish Project to Expand


The first effort at culturing fish in an abattoir’s wastewater has been successfully completed in a trial in South Australia. Tatiara Meat Company, a lamb exporter, consumes about 1 million litres of water in an average day in its operations. Most of the water used is then recycled, however, waste water held in storage ponds is now being used to grow ornamental goldfish and carp, which purifies the water making it suitable to irrigate pasture for fodder for livestock. Environmental officer Fil Farina says the project is likely to expand. "A lot of meat processing works do have storage lagoons on site and also a lot of them do have further processing facilities. I do see a big future for this sort of a project".


Monochoria africana


One of the most beautiful indigenous South African aquatic plants is the subject of description and attention on the national South African Bio-diversity web-site. Suggested as a replacement in South African water gardens for the declared weed Eichhornia crassipes and declared invasive Pontederia cordata, it is now said that it only needs someone to learn how to propagate the plant for it to become a hit in every water feature. Further details click here.


Water Feature Ideas Slide Show

Gardeners who are interested in water features, especially those features that are self-contained should take a few minutes to watch the slide show of design ideas now featured on the Garden-NZ web-site. This features ten of the most popular and practical designs. To view click here.


Waterlily Beauty Contest Result

Nymphaea 'Pink Ribbon'
Well known waterlily breeder Pairat Songpanich from Thailand, in conjunction with Water Gardeners International, recently organised a Waterlily Beauty Contest to name one of his latest seedlings. The result has now been declared and the winning waterlily named ‘Pink Ribbon’ in support of the breast cancer awareness campaign. Further details click here.


Aquatic Plant Nutrient Research Results

The results of a project funded by a research grant from the International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society, entitled Nutrient Release Rates from Controlled Release Fertilizers under Various Substrate Environments has just been published by the Society. Details from click here.


To visit International Water Gardener and the other regional Water Gardener web-sites click here.

Happy Water Gardening

Philip Swindells

PondMessenger

To join the PondMessenger water gardening community
click here.

To join the KoiMessenger koi-keeping community
click here.

To join the GoldfishMessenger goldfish-keeping community
click here.

Photos:
Nymphaea 'Iolanthe - Christian Meyer
Monochoria africana - Plantzafrica
Nymphaea 'Pink Ribbon' - Pairat Songpanich


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